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Hope Strength

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Proverbs 13:12
Posted on:
February 8, 2021

In the 2015-16 Premier League football season we saw something remarkable – Leicester City won. The season before, they had been at the bottom of the table at Christmas with only 10 points. The season before they were in the Championship (the league below for all non-football fans). If you had spoken out then that they would win the league with 81 points in 2015-16, you would have been called insane. Every fan hopes their team will do well, but this was beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.

Every day, we have the opportunity to speak hope into hopeless situations. During these difficult times, reflect on your response to the future you see for yourself and those around you. In 1 Corinthians 13, we read that, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.” Above every situation we face, faith, hope and love remain. That means that even when we are facing situations outside of our control, we can remain hopeful. For those we see who have lost their hope, we can be a voice of hope to them. Your words, like seed can cause hope to grow.

The seed is a great picture of hope. Those who have hope have the mission of spreading hope to others. In Proverbs 18:21 we read, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” This includes the words you say about others, not only the words you say to them. Seeds of praise and affirmation bring life. It was such a blessing to receive an answer to prayer this week, praising the amazing support our staff are providing in the most difficult circumstances. The positive comments of parents too regarding our response to lock-down again, brings life.  

This week, as we consider our hope strength, I encourage you to take time to reflect on your words. Spend time each day being intentional about the hope you spread to others and about others. May we all strengthen each other, believing that, even in the most difficult situations, good can come.

What is your response?
As you read the devotional, set some time aside to ask God how the word can change you today.
James 1:22 says "Do not merely listen to the word...do what it says." How can you live out the challenges set, or share the encouragement from the post today?
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